BST's Blog

Yesterday and today I feel like I have "Flight of the Bumblebee" playing in my head...except that someone turned it on slllooowwww speed. I've been trying to get ready for Abilene. Being down all week hasn't helped. I think we are finally well enough to travel. Please pray for Melissa Kirby, one of the ZOE-ettes. She has this stuff and threw up all night last night. BLESS HER! Will it seem weird if I walk onto the airplane with a surgical mask on and latex gloves? I have tried that herbal thing--"Airborne" before. Looks like I might have to again. (Hello??? Howard Hughes! I told you.)

I am looking forward to seeing Sing Song tomorrow night. It's hard to believe that 10 years ago tonight I was preparing for opening night as the director of hosts and hostesses. What a fun group we had! Lea Brown, Emily Trice, Amy Shepherd, Jason McArthur, Rob Thomas, and Kendall Massey were hosts that year. WOW! It's so cool how many of them have gone on to great things. Lea and Jason live in Nashville and go to OC and sing with ZOE. Lea teaches in the inner city. Jason is a record label executive. I actually dated Emily later. And then she was a bridesmaid in our wedding. Go figure. She and Sheryl are close friends (brilliant move, BST). She's now happily married and living in Dallas where she is continuing to sing too. Amy Shepherd is married and in Chicago or somewhere. Rob Thomas is the genius behind the igniter videos that many of you have seen and used. Kendall is the director if Sing Song and teaches a music industry/recording class of some kind there at ACU. I called them my "chickens". I am so proud of them! 10 years. Yikes.

That means it was 14 years ago when I was a host. When did I become a geriatric? We had an amazing group too--most of whom went on to sing and bless people. You've heard me talk about Stephen. He was my roommate and best man. He is also a creative genius, in my book. And, you also know Val from blog comments and his own amazing writing. Stephen and Val continue to sing and minister through their voices. We had such a blast being hosts that year. It was such a pleasure to perform with such amazingly talented people! The girls were Kimberly Meador (daughter of Prentice), Martha Kate Stallings (daughter of Gene), Darcy Washburn, and Kristen Behrends. They've all continued to sing--some professionally. What a blast. It's hilarious to look at that video. We watched it recently at my mom's. We were all much thinner and I had a LOT of hair. we're talking TONS. Think Richard Marx. Scary.

Sing Song is such a huge deal in Abilene...population 120,000 SAL-UTE!! Although there are three other Universities there, when ACU Homecoming or Sing Song happens, it's a city-wide news event. I grew up in awe. IN AWE. Watching people like Holly Dunn, Brown Banister, Cindy Lipford, Clay Hale, Nelson Coats (just saw one of his recent movies--a John Grisham one. Can't think of the title), Kellie Curtis, Michael McCoy--and so many more. All I ever wanted to be until 1991 was a Sing Song Host. How's that for some deep ambition? OK--maybe there were a couple of other goals in there, but basically, it was true. It was such a fun time in life!

After graduating ACU and performing on the ship and doing professional theater in the Dallas area I commuted back to work with Sing Song in 1995. I never thought anything could be as fun as actually being on that stage, but directing them was even better. All that to say, it's been 10 years since that weekend. Time flies!

I am meeting John Chisum for lunch today. John is here with Nancy Gordon finishing one of their children's records. I miss John. I have never forgiven him for moving--you hear that, John??!! John has blessed ZOE by allowing us to sing some of his songs...like Let Your Spirit Come, I Come Expecting Jesus, Healing Grace, and Christ Above Me. He's down in Mobile now working with a church and doing some stuff with Integrity Music. We miss you, John! Maddie named her teddy bear "Ali" after John's beautiful red haired daughter.

I've bored you with trivia today. Sorry. Sometimes it's fun to think back. Some of you know these names and I thought it might be fun for you too. Otherwise, tune back in later for more ramblings and less trivia. I'll try to post next week, if possible.

PS: my mom's birthday is Tuesday!! Shhh--don't tell her I told you!